The much anticipated concessions on Christmas barrels are on again for the festive season. Government has announced a 100 percent waiver of import duty on barrels imported between December 1, 2016 and February 15, 2017.

By Cabinet Conclusion No. 295 of October 24, 2016, Government approved the following concessions with regard to the Christmas Barrel Trade: 100 percent waiver of import duty on personal items, food, clothing, toys, and other household consumables contained in barrels.

The Zika virus which has affected several families and communities continues to receive attention not only from St. Lucia’s Ministry of Health and Wellness but also from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Recently, the two agencies held a Zika Sensitization Workshop at the National Mental Wellness Centre in order to train participants in risk communication and reduce the impact of the Zika virus on the population.

The Public is notified that in keeping with changes in international oil prices and Government’s application of the modified market pass-through petroleum pricing mechanism, the retail prices of gasoline and Diesel per gallon as well as the LPG have been changed.

With one week to go before the ARC 2016 fleet leave Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for Rodney Bay in Saint Lucia, crews from the 205 yachts already berthed at the marina took part in the official Opening Ceremony.

At midday Sunday 13 November hundreds of ARC participants took part in the Official Opening Ceremony for ARC 2016. Flag bearers from 31 different nations representing the countries of the yachts in this year's rally joined the procession as it made its way around the marina.

The head of the Caribbean’s top university is getting support from the region for his call on the outgoing American President to clean-up Marcus Garvey’s name before leaving the White House.

Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies Prof. Sir Hilary Beckles, over the weekend called on US President Barack Obama “to grant a posthumous pardon” to Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., for his 1923 mail fraud conviction in the United States.

A women and child rights activist has prescribed what she says is the only way to end the rape culture in St Lucia and worldwide.

Catherine Sealys who was featured on Thursday’s Newsspin program to promote the establishment of a rape crisis centre stressed that the onus lies on men in the push to end sexual violence against women and children.

A reduction in the vat rate is just one of the initiatives that government has employed to provide financial relief to St Lucians according to the Senior Communications Officer in the Officer of the Prime Minister.

A 2.5 percent cut in the current rate will take effect in February next year, resulting in a reduction of 12.5 percent.

Clients of the Victoria Hospital are now benefiting from the donation of a hi-tech German made, mechanical ventilator, donated by the Honorary Consul for St. Lucia to Lebanon Mr. Malek El Sayed.

According to the Lebanese official, the main functions of the Consul are to represent St. Lucia on a Diplomatic level and to assist the government and people of St. Lucia with the needs of the country.

Meanwhile, Officers attached to the Marchand Police Station are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting of 39 year old Julius Hippolyte also known as Black Jesus of George Charles Boulevard, Marchand.

The incident occurred about 2:30 p.m. on Friday November 5, 2016 at the George Charles Boulevard, Marchand.

St Lucia is preparing to welcome sailors in the fourth edition of ARC+ which set sail from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with the largest ever fleet of 72 boats.

The event which is seen as a precursor to the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers is part of the 2016 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers and was introduced for the first time in 2013 to give sailors in the world's most popular transocean rally a choice of routes across the Atlantic.

Plans for the construction of a four lane highway in the north of the island are currently on hold.

That's according to St Lucia’s Minister for Infrastructure Stephenson King who informed that an assessment of the plans for the project is currently underway to determine the need for such a massive infrastructural undertaking.